Yeezus
by Kanye West
  • Record Label: Def Jam
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2013
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2196 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,717 out of 2196
  2. Mixed: 196 out of 2196
  3. Negative: 283 out of 2196
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  1. rubenindesign
    Dec 11, 2013
    9
    I admit Yeezus can be a bit hard to listen to at first; the beats are very ‘in your face!’ and Kanye’s lyrics can be a bit off-putting, I cant tell you how many times the man mentions his ‘black penis’. But then again that’s what I always liked about him, the guts to do whatever he wants, a lot of artists are afraid to take that far. It may not sound like it now but this what ourI admit Yeezus can be a bit hard to listen to at first; the beats are very ‘in your face!’ and Kanye’s lyrics can be a bit off-putting, I cant tell you how many times the man mentions his ‘black penis’. But then again that’s what I always liked about him, the guts to do whatever he wants, a lot of artists are afraid to take that far. It may not sound like it now but this what our generation needs.… Expand
  2. bfoore90
    Mar 29, 2014
    9
    Brilliance mixed with Ignorance with a side of Egotistical-ness, if thats even a word. But overall for what it is being an experimental album, I really feel like Kanye delivered just in a different way then he did with MBDTF, Dropout, and LR
  3. BigBriggsness
    Jan 29, 2014
    9
    It's hard to call Yeezus Kanye's most inventive work, because literally every album he has released was extremely creative in its own time. What I can say is that Yeezus is the only rap album this year that I've heard where it genuinely caught me off-guard. There were multiple moments throughout the album where I said out loud "he can't do that... you can't do that, right?" But he did it.It's hard to call Yeezus Kanye's most inventive work, because literally every album he has released was extremely creative in its own time. What I can say is that Yeezus is the only rap album this year that I've heard where it genuinely caught me off-guard. There were multiple moments throughout the album where I said out loud "he can't do that... you can't do that, right?" But he did it. He would switch from one sample to the next, different tempo, no supporting beat, and then he would jump right back in to his flow with a new beat and sample behind himself.
    One of Kanye's trademarks is his repetitious use of sampling. Each song is incredibly unique, from the primal, angry satire of Kanye backed with a huge drumline and Tarzan-ish screaming in Black Skinhead, to the industrial, heavily distorted opener On Sight. Bound 2 and Hold My Liquor were standout tracks for originality, although Blood on the Leaves and New Slaves were more recognized and also very inventive in their own right.
    Nothing is in this album that doesn't belong in there, and that's a rare thing to say in the age of digital music recording. He went through ridiculous amounts of modifying, mixing, re-writing, and post-production over the course of this album, ultimately ending with the hiring of Rick Rubin the "reducer" less than three weeks before the album was due, to help over-see the final, drastic changes to the album.
    This album gets a 9.5, but I am going to round down to a 9 because there were some lyrical moments that were distastefully sexual and not even in a clever way. If that album were without the track I'm In It, I might round up to a 10. Still, Kanye's style and artisanship are still leagues ahead of most rappers in the game today, and this album deserves a listen from anyone who claims to be tired of the "same old same old."    … Expand
  4. wondugebeyehu
    Mar 12, 2014
    9
    The album is an angry, muddled, ignorant, slapped-together heap of vulgar expression that works better than anyone else in music could've done. It's an album so angrily sure of itself it'll have you convinced that a man worth 100 million dollars faces oppression comparable to that of a slave.
  5. comebackkid12
    Dec 8, 2014
    9
    After the first listen, "Yeezus" may sound like just a group of jarring noises, all meant to piss you off and get you thinking to yourself, "how did anybody think this guy was good?" There lies your issue: repeated listens begin to really flesh out the gorgeous in what is Mr. West's darkest and craziest work to date. After his enormous success with the critically-lauded "My Beautiful DarkAfter the first listen, "Yeezus" may sound like just a group of jarring noises, all meant to piss you off and get you thinking to yourself, "how did anybody think this guy was good?" There lies your issue: repeated listens begin to really flesh out the gorgeous in what is Mr. West's darkest and craziest work to date. After his enormous success with the critically-lauded "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Kanye sought out to change his game yet again, repeatedly informing interviewers about him doing the complete opposite of what people wanted from him musically. Abrasive, pummeling, extreme, grinding, droney and industrial are all words I would use to describe the sound from this record, yet in the hands of a man with talent like Mr. West, the irritating noises soon begin to take shape, form, and end up becoming a masterpiece that the perfectionist is obsessively using to stay far, far ahead of the game. Remember when hip-hop was uncomfortable? When it was weird and unpleasant and jarring and crazy? That's exactly what this album is, constantly knocking you off of your feet, and as you stand up to brush the dust off, hits you yet again. Ye also stated that he wanted a minimalist design to the record, and it is very much so; clocking in at 40 minutes, there's no beat or noise or scream that isn't perfectly in place. Also treading on the minimalism line is Ye's screams: unexpected and primal, they pierce the song abruptly, with beat changes coming and going in a manner never heard before. Personally, the tracks that were the least expected were my favorite: "On Sight" as an introduction is the most confused I've ever been when starting to listen to an album (I thought something was wrong with my iPod when it began). "Hold My Liquor" sounds ridiculous at first, but the longer it goes, the prettier it gets. "Blood On The Leaves" is my absolute favorite, with six minutes of him rapping/singing/wailing over a girl that he got pregnant, all on top of a sample of "Strange Fruit," a song about lynching. This moment alone smacked me in the face and deftly declared that Mr. West sure had the guts, balls and genius to pull it off. It's bold, it's urgent, but it's most importantly, revolutionary.… Expand
  6. nirvanafreak
    Jan 15, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Favourite Songs: On Sight, Black Skinhead, New Slaves, Blood on the Leaves
    Least Favourite Songs: Bound 2, Guilt Trip, Hold My Liquor
    Yeezus is not an unenjoyable album but I have a fair few issues with the content on it, as well as the way it's been glorified as some envelope pushing masterpiece. It's just not that. Yeezus may have introduced a lot more people to noise hop as a genre but I don't think taking a sound over a decade old and giving it a more mainstream appeal is at all envelope pushing. It's like Death Grips who seem to get all the praise for this exciting new kind of music, which is why noise hop fans, like Moodie Black, get annoyed when people just assume Death Grips are the first noise hop band ever and everyone else is just copying them. It's exactly the same thing with Kanye's Yeezus and at times it makes want to hate the album. Its bad enough hundreds of thousands of people, possibly millions, think that this is groundbreaking; it's made worse by the fact that it's a half assed effort. I dare anyone to argue he put his all into this. I guess I'm happy that Kanye experimented with this sound but I would be a lot happier if he introduced it to people well because after hearing the Lil Wayne level lyrics to songs like 'I'm In It' it would just seem like the new horror core with lyrics that try too hard to be shocking. Kanye West could have actually created a very dark album with this but he completely ruins the mood created by the beats with dumb lyrics. On the final song the production takes a very unexpected turn towards a College Dropout era sound but sadly Kanye doesn't take that same trip back with his lyrics. Despite all of that there is, like I said, some very dark production on here and a great mixture of raw drums and dark synths on a few songs. Most of my favourite songs were produced with the help of Daft Punk- most notably the messy futuristic sounding opener 'On Sight'- which has for 3 years left me dreaming of some kind of full length collaboration between the two artists that'll almost definitely never happen. But still, I can dream can't I?
    Better Than Previous Project?: No
    Try This If You Like: The Money Store by Death Grips    … Expand
  7. PerilousPanda
    Jan 30, 2016
    9
    "Look at the song title "I Am a God" and it seems like easy blasphemy-- Kanye West's update of John Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" shocker from 1966. But just as the Beatle's proclamation was fuller and wiser in context-- "I believe that what people call God is something in all of us," Lennon would later explain-- "I Am a God" is not simply the latest self-important blast from one of"Look at the song title "I Am a God" and it seems like easy blasphemy-- Kanye West's update of John Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" shocker from 1966. But just as the Beatle's proclamation was fuller and wiser in context-- "I believe that what people call God is something in all of us," Lennon would later explain-- "I Am a God" is not simply the latest self-important blast from one of pop culture's pre-eminent egoists. For starters, the track sounds less triumphant than breathtakingly vexed, crashing in with a gnarled dancehall vocal sample and paranoid sawtooth synths that aim to destroy. Here, Kanye raps about loyalty, respect, threesomes, and, yes, croissants with the urgency of someone being chased by a 30-ton steamroller. The song is pierced by a series of primal screams, pixelated outbursts that are only briefly able to halt the beat's heaving evil. In Kanye's hands, being a god sounds stressful as hell, something we can all relate to, and the song's apparent inspiration is a passage from the book of Psalms: "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."
    These are the immeasurably lofty stakes Kanye deals in on Yeezus, his sixth solo album. His intensity here has a heightened desperation as he howls into the void, but the Chicago native has always been beguiled by the view from above. Take "Jesus Walks", where he references another Psalm while gasping from on high: "I walk through the valley of the Chi where death is/ Top floor, the view alone will leave you breathless." Then, on "POWER", he contemplates leaping out of the penthouse, "letting everything go." In a way, Yeezus is the panicked sound of that ensuing free-fall, a rush of angst and despair with absolutely nothing left to lose.
    The album is something of a razor-sharpened take on 2008's distressed 808s & Heartbreak and marks a blunt break with the filigreed maximalism Kanye so thoroughly nailed on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In hindsight, the latter record-- with its ingratiating GOOD Fridays buildup, endless guest list, and uncharacteristically apologetic interview sessions-- was his attempt at recapturing a superstar-sized American audience after a slew of entertaining-yet-questionable PR incidents. Except it didn't exactly work: While Twisted Fantasy was universally lauded and went platinum, it still stands as Kanye's worst-selling album to date, failing to produce a top 10 single. But even if it wasn't a chart smash, the intricacy and durability of Twisted Fantasy incubated the Cult of Kanye to an extreme level. "I’d rather piss a bunch of people off and make myself happy than make everyone else happy and be pissed off inside," he told VIBE around the release of 808s. Yeezus doubles-down on this exclusionary philosophy: "Soon as they like you, make 'em unlike you/ 'Cause kissing people ass is so unlike you."
    For Kanye, there's purpose in repulsion. And on Yeezus, he trades out smooth soul and anthemic choruses for jarring electro, acid house, and industrial grind while delivering some of his most lewd and heart-crushing tales yet. This is willful provocation that Ice Cube, Madonna, and Trent Reznor could all be proud of. Some of the record has him tackling the same issues he's been rapping about since The College Dropout, albeit with a fire-eyed stare. On his debut's "Family Business", he poignantly lamented a jailed cousin's absence at the Thanksgiving dinner table in a manner "so sweet, like a photo of your granny's picture." On Yeezus, he's still addressing the plight of incarcerated black men, but now he's incensed. With "New Slaves", he confronts us with vulgar stereotypes while exposing the prison-industrial complex for the deeply systemic racist sham that it is.
    Meanwhile, XXX creeper "I'm In It" sounds like a dancehall orgasm mired in quicksand and makes previous come-ons like "Slow Jamz" come off like Disney theme songs. "The kids and the wife life, but can't wake up from the nightlife," says the new father on that track's knowingly button-pushing final verse. "I'm so scared of my demons/ I go to sleep with a nightlight." Kanye told The New York Times he's recently reached a new level of Zen, but this is the opposite of beach-chair music. Perhaps the album's most explicit lines are the blurry fantasies of a confessed porn addict who's described his daughter's mother as a "superstar all from a home movie." Without much room for levity, Kanye's complicated and distrustful view of women is unrelenting on Yeezus. And while there's no real excuse for flat oafishness like "eatin' Asian **** all I need was sweet and sour sauce," many of the album's most powerful moments have him broken down, insecure, and bloody, railing against an ineptitude with the opposite sex.
    Album pinnacle "Blood on the Leaves" tells a nightmarish story of divorce and betrayal, all while samples of Nina Simone's pitched-up "Strange Fruit" and TNGHT's demonic "R U Ready" horns play yin and yang" -Pitchfork    … Expand
  8. LimGuns
    Jul 5, 2015
    9
    Not the best Kanye's put out there (MBDTF is still my favorite), but this album is still fantastic. When I first heard "On Sight", I was turned away from this album. Later, I gave it a try, and I was surprised that I passed on it on the first place. Beside for "On Sight", which isn't TOO terrible, the album is great all the way trough. It is very different from all his other albumsNot the best Kanye's put out there (MBDTF is still my favorite), but this album is still fantastic. When I first heard "On Sight", I was turned away from this album. Later, I gave it a try, and I was surprised that I passed on it on the first place. Beside for "On Sight", which isn't TOO terrible, the album is great all the way trough. It is very different from all his other albums (Very experimental, mabey the reason for the public backlash) and it takes chances. If there is anything remotley close to "Art" in pop music today, it's this album.

    Highlights:
    - On Sight
    - Blood On the Leaves
    - Black Skinhead    … Expand
  9. cescopapa
    Nov 20, 2015
    9
    I'm an italian fan of Kanye west and I think that this album will be remembered as an album that broke many barriers and a classic in the next ten years. Sounds are incredible but the only flaw is that the verses are a bit without sense. Ye talks about racism but in the next verse he talks about his leather pants?! But this is Kanye. This is one of the few , perhaps the only , reasons whyI'm an italian fan of Kanye west and I think that this album will be remembered as an album that broke many barriers and a classic in the next ten years. Sounds are incredible but the only flaw is that the verses are a bit without sense. Ye talks about racism but in the next verse he talks about his leather pants?! But this is Kanye. This is one of the few , perhaps the only , reasons why my vote is 9 and not 10.… Expand
  10. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    9
    9.0
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  11. victorcarter
    Nov 29, 2016
    9
    The production is completely out of this world. It is not because it is overly experimental, but rather incredibly ambitious. It succeeds in everything it tries to do and then some. My only complaint would be the lyrics that aren't up to par with some of Kanye's previous work.
  12. greekmatthew
    May 16, 2017
    9
    Loud, brash, abrasive, and in-your-face, Yeezus does not hesitate to make its presence known. This could be highly regarded as Kanye's best work, West uses techniques and sounds that he had not previously done in his other works, but he implements it with such eloquence, ingeniousness, and confidence that it is difficult to not be a complete fan of.
  13. aharrywilson
    Apr 17, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. On Yeezus, Kanye takes his experimental side to a whole new level with this sonically intense, multi genred album. For many listeners, this album can be quite a hard pill to swallow due to in audacious and aggressive sound present on all ten tracks; however for me Yeezus is Kanye's most exciting and boundary pushing project in his entire discography.

    Right off the bat your hit with a very hard hitting track titled 'On sight', a song that musically sets the tone for the rest of the project what with its loud, sonic, in your face instrumental. This is then followed up by the stellar single 'Black Skinhead' where Kanye faces down on stereotypes towards black people and himself. The album keeps up its high quality production for the next four tracks: 'I am a god', 'New slaves', 'Hold my liquor', and 'Im in it'. Although these tracks have similar themes of egotism present in them, the instrumentals and the way Kanye delivers his lyrics helps to display a strong sense of passion. The seventh track on the album 'Blood on the leaves' has trap styled beat along with a Nina Simone sample which is then followed up by the track 'Guilt trip', a song that samples a vocal snippet from a lead single from the compilation album 'Cruel Summer'. The penultimate track 'Send it up' uses very loud horns in its instrumental including a dreary feature from Chicago rapper King Louie and a Beenie Man sample in the songs intro and outro. Single 'Bound 2' acts as a closer for the album, a track that stylistically is more reminiscent to Kanyes earlier work.

    From front to back Yeezus has amazing production with Kanye delivering witty, braggadocio lyrics over electronic, loud, heavy hitting beats. Most definitely Yeezus is the most difficult album to enjoy, especially at first listen, compared to Kanyes earlier work; however the decision make an album like this shows that Mr West is still a creative artist who wants to try out different sounds. This album isn't going to have some sort of influence on your outlook on life or leave you with a deep message, however it is clear that Kanye isn't attempting to do this anyway. Those who are into alternative hip-hop and Kanye spitting witty, braggadocio lyrics are going to love this album just as much as I do!

    Singles: black skinhead, bound 2
    Favourite track: on sight
    Release date: 18 June 2013
    Length: 40:01 ( 10 tracks )
    Genres: hip hop, experimental, alternative hip hop    … Expand
  14. euanfraser
    Nov 13, 2019
    9
    'Yeezus' was and will be the peak of 'Kanye's' discography. The projects soundscape is both minimalist and compelling and by far the highlight of this record. 'Kanye' is known for production, and this album proves it. The bangers are plentiful on 'Yeezus'. Introducing the industrial lifestyle the album puts forward; 'On Sight' blares the faint-hearted away and prepares those ready to hear'Yeezus' was and will be the peak of 'Kanye's' discography. The projects soundscape is both minimalist and compelling and by far the highlight of this record. 'Kanye' is known for production, and this album proves it. The bangers are plentiful on 'Yeezus'. Introducing the industrial lifestyle the album puts forward; 'On Sight' blares the faint-hearted away and prepares those ready to hear one of the greatest listening experiences of your life. It is not until the outro of the fourth track; 'New Slaves', where the instrumentals give the listeners a break from the lineup of bangers. However, this downtime does not last long and the next track; 'Hold My Liquor' builds the high back up again. Surprisingly, the most impressive track is the calmest; 'Guilt Trip'. The electronic orchestra and Kanye's excellent flow provide a beautiful listening experience. My least favourite track would have to be 'Send It Up' as its high-pitched horn gets a little annoying. Besides the horn, the track is great. My favourite track would have to be the highly underrated; 'On Sight'. I cannot think of a better way to introduce a listener into this type of album. 'Yeezus' is a gem and a highly underrated one.… Expand
  15. AndreaGamerYT
    Jan 25, 2021
    9
    Actually I don't know why people do hate this album. This album has just 1 skip (Guilt Trip), and it isn't that bad. It was too far ahead for being an album released in 2013. It aged well.
    The best tracks are:
    On Sight,
    Black Skinhead,
    Bound 2
    I give a 9 because some parts of the album are annoying, without sense and to skip.
  16. C_dot
    May 22, 2019
    9
    For starters, this album is definitely Kanye's most abrasive and experimental album. He wanted to do something completely from everything he was done, and he succeeded. The album is very minimalist and stripped down, something that screams anti-Kanye. However, this album is the essence of Mr. West: changing the landscape of mainstream by shifting the genre entirely. The first listen, I wasFor starters, this album is definitely Kanye's most abrasive and experimental album. He wanted to do something completely from everything he was done, and he succeeded. The album is very minimalist and stripped down, something that screams anti-Kanye. However, this album is the essence of Mr. West: changing the landscape of mainstream by shifting the genre entirely. The first listen, I was not a fan. However, every time I listen to the album, it just becomes more and more beautiful.… Expand
  17. SKSK
    Jul 21, 2018
    9
    Some will not be able to see beyond the god complex. Yeezus is unique and marks a new stage in modern music.
  18. Haakonw
    Oct 29, 2019
    9
    Close to perfection. One of the most experimental rap albums of all time. Kanye pushes the bouandries as always here.

    It ages perfectly:

    Standouts: Almost every song, but New Slaves and blood on the leaves standes as the best songs.

    Least: Im in it is the only song that I can skip, the rest is flawless
  19. BeckTheWolf
    Jul 29, 2021
    9
    Raw, loud, rude, offensive, hyper-sexual, gross, explicit, blasphemous, egotistical...all reasons why this is my all time favorite Kanye West project, even more than My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Black Skinhead alone makes this album worth it.
  20. Hendo250
    Mar 29, 2021
    9
    this album is a 9 this album is a 9 this album is a 9 this album is a 9 this album is a 9
  21. STABILITY
    May 11, 2021
    9
    i dont get why people didnt like this album i mean it was ahead of its time but still
  22. abhxjith
    Jul 18, 2021
    9
    An album ahead of it’s time. On my initial listen, the album felt chaotic to a point where it seemed a bit funny. But the more i listened to it, the more it grew on me. It’s insane cause now that i listen to it, the “chaos”
    is manufactured so well. It was a bold move for ye to put out such an experimental album. The sounds used are complex yet simplistic.
    Kanye is a genius to say the least    An album ahead of it’s time. On my initial listen, the album felt chaotic to a point where it seemed a bit funny. But the more i listened to it, the more it grew on me. It’s insane cause now that i listen to it, the “chaos”
    is manufactured so well. It was a bold move for ye to put out such an experimental album. The sounds used are complex yet simplistic.
    Kanye is a genius to say the least Favourite tracks: Bound 2, Blood on the leaves, New slaves, Guilt Trip    … Expand
  23. ISETAEME
    Jan 10, 2022
    9
    Este álbum es muy especial.
    Quitando de lado alguna letra que otra y el egocentrismo de Kanye, este álbum tiene un sonido muy raro pero que a mi me encanta.
    Si a alguno no le gusta es totalmente razonable. Para mi, es uno de los mejores proyectos de Kanye.
  24. Memezilla
    Feb 7, 2022
    9
    Went from being disappointed in Kanye for making this to absolutely loving it. It takes a few listens to fully appreciate the album. Not his best work tho ngl. The lyrics are pretty bad that's why it's not a ten
  25. JamesJennings
    May 3, 2022
    9
    A fantastic experimental noise album with some really nice breaks in between. The perfect album to introduce your weird dad to hip-hop with. While not an essential hip-hop record, you are surely missing out if you haven't heard it. It's a grower to be sure, but if you listen to it more than once you might grow to love it. We keep it 300 like the romans.
  26. DoctorSoundyear
    Jun 21, 2013
    8
    This Kanye's most out there album to date, but that does not mean it's not up there with his best. At first listen it might seem that West has taken the easy way out, trading his signature production for hard beats and blips that sound more like a acid Nine Inch Nails, but after further evaluation the listener will grow to appreciate the album for simple masterpiece that it is.
  27. Ricko
    Jul 15, 2014
    8
    Yeezus sees Kanye West push himself like never before and he once again brings something new to the hip-hop party. The man is hard to like as a person but there is no doubt that he is an exceptional talent. He could have easily recycled what he's been doing for the last decade, released it and sold shedloads but instead he's launched a sonic attack on the music world. Musically, Yeezus isYeezus sees Kanye West push himself like never before and he once again brings something new to the hip-hop party. The man is hard to like as a person but there is no doubt that he is an exceptional talent. He could have easily recycled what he's been doing for the last decade, released it and sold shedloads but instead he's launched a sonic attack on the music world. Musically, Yeezus is astonishing with West bringing all of his producer skills and musical talent to produce something truly creative. Unfortunately and perhaps surprisingly, the album is let down by West's lyrics, an area in which he often excels. Yeezus doesn't seem to have anything new to say and outside of "New Slaves", West could be freestyling about anything and too often the material tries to shock but ends up just being plain distasteful.… Expand
  28. axelkoch
    Jun 18, 2013
    8
    How can you adequately follow up to the greatest hip hop album in music history? Well, you can’t. Kanye West got subsequently worse after My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, with his Jay-Z collaboration Watch The Throne being more back to the roots, yet still awesome and his record’s group album Cruel Summer being not much more than well-made fun for the summer with tons of prominent guestsHow can you adequately follow up to the greatest hip hop album in music history? Well, you can’t. Kanye West got subsequently worse after My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, with his Jay-Z collaboration Watch The Throne being more back to the roots, yet still awesome and his record’s group album Cruel Summer being not much more than well-made fun for the summer with tons of prominent guests on it. His newest release Yeezus is anything but spectacular just look at its cover. And if West’s Saturday Night Live performance of ‘New Slaves’ and ‘Black Skinhead’ induced you to think that his much anticipated 6th studio album is completely different to his former releases, it’s not either. He was clearly experimenting with beats when he made the album and some Daft Punk productions are quite unique in hip hop, admittedly; but his rap style, which is the topmost in a hip hop album, has stayed very similar to earlier releases. What is it then that still makes it a great album? It’s actually the fact that it isn’t anything new. The Chicago rapper mixes every single one of styles he had in his rap career into this album, meaning The College Dropout’s and Late Registration’s pun- and wordplay-laden lyrics, 808’s & Heartbreak whining, poetic lyrics and Autotune effects, and MBDTF’s epic atmosphere. And seriously, there isn’t anything bad with that because there’s something for everyone included in Yeezus: However, a bit more uniqueness wouldn’t have derogated the record, that’s for sure. Basically, the album may be disappointing just because it isn’t as colossal as ‘Ye’s former albums, but doesn’t lack anything that would make it a great hip hop record. It should seamlessly fit in in your Yeezy CD collection at home and even if it may take some listens to get accustomed to it, you will like it eventually. Yeezus is an original, unconventional, and adventurous hip hop album like you’ve never seen one before. He tries a lot of new things with his music and although he doesn’t succeed every time, it’s great fun to listen to his musical mixture of feelings. Just think of the majestic beats and Justin Vernon’s grand guest parts how can you not love that?… Expand
  29. DrewBrauer
    Aug 30, 2013
    8
    Talk about a year Kanye's had, performing at the VMA's (Video Music Awards), having a baby with an odd name (North West? Sounds like an insurance company) and even banging his head on a sign then fighting with the cameraman. Even with all that, we still have to remember that Kanye still does music, and he changes things up with his new album "Yeezus" (which sounds like Jesus sneezing) NowTalk about a year Kanye's had, performing at the VMA's (Video Music Awards), having a baby with an odd name (North West? Sounds like an insurance company) and even banging his head on a sign then fighting with the cameraman. Even with all that, we still have to remember that Kanye still does music, and he changes things up with his new album "Yeezus" (which sounds like Jesus sneezing) Now Yeezus has divided up people, critics obviously love, but listeners don't know whether to love it or hate it. For me I liked it. Yeezus isn't Kanye's most memorable album and no everyone will like it, but it doesn't know what it's trying to say, and I recommend it to any Kanye West fans. The opening song "On sight" sounds like something made in a garage (actually this whole album feels like it was made in a garage) but I like that Kanye changed up his style but managed to keep things fresh. The best song on this album is "Black Skinhead", which has a great beat, some amazing sounds, and an interesting take on Kanye West's view of life. Another standout includes "Blood on Leaves" which again shows everyone that West's songs have social commentary and will make you think. Some problems with this album is there's less to think about on the songs, which I blame the pacing at less than 50 minutes it's one of West's more shorter albums. Also no of the songs really stick out expect for "Black Skinhead" and "Blood on Leaves" everything else is more filler than fun. But still Kanye West still manages to impress with his latest release, as I did listen to the album on repeat a few times, and at some points, "Yeezus" is kinda brilliant. If you're a fan of Kanye West, Yeezus is definitely worth listening to.… Expand
  30. SimpleMethod
    Jul 5, 2013
    8
    People are comparing this album to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I think that's the wrong approach because both albums are vastly different, and excellent in their own ways. This album helps Kanye's producer credit more than his lyrical credit, but I've still got it in heavy rotation on my phone. Black Skinhead is probably the best track. This a really high quality album, despitePeople are comparing this album to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I think that's the wrong approach because both albums are vastly different, and excellent in their own ways. This album helps Kanye's producer credit more than his lyrical credit, but I've still got it in heavy rotation on my phone. Black Skinhead is probably the best track. This a really high quality album, despite the barely-there artwork. My only gripe is that there are only 10 tracks. Perhaps he will release volume II in the future.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best Album of 2013
3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2013
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 46
  3. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. The Wire
    Dec 10, 2013
    50
    His concerns are serious--consumerism, race, fame, relationships--but he rarely addresses them with the craft or focus they deserve. [Sep 2013, p.66]
  2. Q Magazine
    Aug 20, 2013
    80
    Contradiction incarnate, Yeezus is Kanye's most Kanyeish LP yet. [Sep 2013, p.103]
  3. Mojo
    Aug 13, 2013
    80
    Nasty, brutish, short, and wholly compelling, Yeezus begs only one question: where next? [Sep 2013, p.89]
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